Add page numbers to a PDF
Add page numbers to a PDF that does not have them, with control over position, format, starting number and which pages get skipped. Applied in your browser, downloaded without a watermark.
Add Page Numbers
six positions · custom start · skip cover pages
Loading tool…
How to Add Page Numbers
- Add your PDF. Drag the file onto the drop zone. A preview appears so you can see where the numbers will land.
- Choose position and format. Pick one of six positions, then a format — plain numbers, “Page 3”, or “3 of 24”. Set the font, size and colour.
- Set the range. Choose which page numbering starts on and what number it starts at, so cover pages can be skipped or counted without being marked.
- Apply and download. Save the numbered PDF.
Skipping a cover page without breaking the count
This is the detail that catches people out. A report with a title page usually should not have a “1” printed on the cover — but the page after it should still be numbered 2, not 1, or the printed numbers will not match a table of contents.
Two separate settings handle this. “Start numbering on page” controls the first page that gets a number printed on it. “First number” controls what that number says. Set the first to 2 and the second to 2, and your cover stays clean while the numbering stays honest.
For a document with front matter that uses its own sequence, run the tool twice: once over the front matter, once over the body with a first number of 1.
Choosing a position that survives printing and binding
Bottom-centre is the safest default. It is where readers expect to find a page number, and it is far from the binding edge on both left and right pages.
Bottom-outer corners look more polished in a bound document but require alternating sides for odd and even pages — if you set a fixed bottom-right, every left-hand page will have its number tucked into the spine.
Leave enough margin. Numbers placed within about 10mm of the page edge risk being trimmed by commercial printing or clipped by a printer's unprintable margin. The default margin here accounts for that.
Why numbering locally is worth it
Page numbers get added at a specific moment: just before a document goes out. Court bundles, tender submissions, board papers, contracts with annexes — documents that matter, being finalised.
Since the numbering is applied in your browser, that final version never gets uploaded anywhere. The document that goes to the recipient is the only copy that ever leaves your machine.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip the cover page?
Yes. Set numbering to start on page 2 and choose what number it should show — so the cover stays clean while the rest of the document numbers correctly.
Can numbering start at a number other than 1?
Yes. Set any starting number, which is what you need when a document is one section of a larger bundle that continues from an earlier count.
Can I use the “Page X of Y” format?
Yes. The total is calculated from the document automatically, so it stays correct without you typing it.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Numbers are drawn into the pages by your browser and the document never leaves your device.
What if the page number overlaps existing content?
The preview shows exactly where numbers will land before you apply them. If a page already has a footer, shift the position or increase the margin to move clear of it.
Can I remove page numbers that are already there?
Not with this tool. Numbers baked into an existing PDF are part of the page content and would need the Redact PDF tool to remove — after which you can add fresh ones here.
Will the numbers print correctly?
Yes. They are drawn into the page content, so they print exactly as shown. The default margin keeps them clear of typical printer trim areas.